Plumber has Covered Copper & Steel pipes in Cement, issues later?

[Scorps79]

My plumber has covered up some of
the hot water pipes running under the
floor with cement instead of just fitting
the original floorboards back. please
see the photo.

The original hot water pipes are steel
and were unlagged also present are
unlagged copper pipes.

Should I ask him to dig up the cement?
I am not sure what to do but have heard
copper reacts with the cement. I believe
he did this because he could not fit the
floorboards back level as they were ...

[DLMURL]https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h5zbGGrUFss2lSUhzKuNl0UzVp4YRYw8fFU1XXZgyNQ?feat=directlink[/DLMURL]

 

[village idiot]

that looks horrible.
Where is it located? Did he ask you before doing what he did? He cannot just choose a different method of ''making good'' the area without first consulting you and getting your approval.

 

[Ermintrude]

Will just crack and will also cause damp in the floor timbers. Call local building inspector you've employed a half whit. Pipes must also be lagged. Part L building regs - conservation of fuel and power

 

[lame plumber]

time for a new plumber, if that was my house his bum would be kicked across the room a few times before it got to the front door. He may think thats one way round solving cutting through all the joists, but all you have now is weakened joists and a floor that will rot out in years to come.

 

[solutions]

Wowsers what a dogs dinner. What on earth did he think he was avhieving with that. That is not the work of a plumber. He may be calling himself that but thats not what he is.

 

[erpkid]

It is work like this that gives us decent peeps a living wage....eventually

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

this is just disgusting. why would somebody do that? get plumber back to remove concrete and then get new plumber

 

[Scorps79]

Thank you all for the replies.

I will definitely be asking him not to return again ...

But, I do need to get the cement removed, any idea
how this can be done, can I remove it by hand because
the pipes are so close to the surface there are 2 hot water
pipes and 1 old gas pipe there too.
Or can a machine be used?

Also do you think the cement may have had a chance to
react with the unlagged copper and steel pipes, shall I get
them replaced? because I really want to avoid having
another leak now or later from these pipes.

 

[village idiot]

Thank you all for the replies.

I will definitely be asking him not to return again ...
.

Except you haven't paid him.
If you have, you should get him back to come and undo the mess he created.

 

[stevetheplumber]

i assume he left his horse outside as theres no hoof marks in the concrete

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

i would replace the pipes as a matter of course and then you have no future worries and dont need to worry about damaging them when removing.

 

[R.Oak]

Over time the concrete will eat away at the copper pipe and cause leaks. If you have paid the guy then you should get him back, if you havn't paid him then you should refuse to and get in an experienced plumber to put it right.

I would replace the pipework even if it looks ok, also, if you are replacing the pipes then you can drain down and not have to worry about being careful when you remove the concrete.

 

[Grumpy old Plum]

If this is on the ground floor unless a D.P.C has been laid you will have the possibility of the damp proof course being bridged, this as previously stated will give rise to damp being drawn up and into the plate and joists and adjoining floor bards .
If traditional floor boards could not be refitted a single board of a wider material such as PLY wood could have been used if this gave a rise in cost you should have been consulted, but any good trades man would have foreseen this or just done it and accepted the small cost involved as a happy customer is much better and a recommendation is worth a lot more than a thousand leaflets delivered